Dear friends,

As we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord we begin the most solemn week of the liturgical year. Here we commemorate Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish His Paschal Mystery, that is, His Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Glorification. The Paschal Mystery is “at the center of the Christian faith because God's saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 112).

This coming week we will begin the Sacred Triduum on Holy Thursday. That morning in the Cathedral Basilica the Archbishop will celebrate the Mass of the Holy Chrism and here in the evening at the parish we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper when the Lord Jesus instituted the Most Holy Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood and gave us the commandment to love one another as He loves us.

On Good Friday we will commemorate the Passion of the Lord. During this liturgical celebration, we will meditate on the Lord’s Passion, venerate the Cross which is the sign of our salvation, commemorate the origin of the Church from the side of Christ on the Cross, and pray for the salvation of the whole world.

On Holy Saturday we will celebrate the Solemn Easter Vigil and so commemorate that holy night when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, and the following morning we will celebrate Easter Sunday.

As we enter Holy Week, we pray that the Lord Jesus will help us come to a greater realization of what He did for us on the Cross which was to give us the opportunity of sharing in His life forever.

In Christ,

Father Bené

"What are you doing for Lent?" is a 40-day question, a question of discipline and practice, a question about how you are going to live in a season.

"What are you doing for Easter?" on the other hand, is usually a single-day question, a question of plans for attending Easter Sunday Mass, visiting family, egg hunts, brunch, etc. It's a piece of small talk, rather than a probing spiritual question.

However, Easter as a season is 50 days. Overall, we celebrate the Resurrection for longer than we were penitent to prepare for it.

So, what might you do for Easter? Suggestions below.

When changes come with Pentecost and the announcements of the All Things New process, you can have knowledge of the gifts the Holy Spirit has particularly bestowed on you in your creation and in your Confirmation sacrament.

Then we can be prepared to put them to use in whatever our new pastorate looks like.

To take a spiritual gifts inventory and find out more detail, visit

ucitylourdes.org/giftsofthespirit

We will have some guides for prayer printed in the cloister walk. They are meant for a pair of persons to take a walk together, read the account of Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus in stages, and share your thoughts based on some reflection questions at each stage.

Set aside time to do with your spouse, a friend, each of your kids individually, etc. Find someone with whom to share the state of your faith and life, and who can share with you.

Take a stroll on a beautiful day. Consider beginning and/or ending in church with the Lord.

Download the Emmaus Walk

Saturday, May 3 is the First Communion Mass.

Therefore, if you want to pray a novena (a simple daily prayer for nine consecutive days) for the children who are approaching this sacrament, it starts Thursday, April 24!

Novena for First Communicants